Should You Lead Your Singleton? by Matthias Huberschwiller

You know that a singleton makes for a great lead, but there are times when it must not be led.

Will you find all the correct answers?

Good luck!

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ A 4 2
♥ 9 8 7 6 3
♦ 6
♣ 8 5 4 2

Q: 1 - What do you lead as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♠
Pass	2♠	Pass	4♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♦6 - There's no reason not to lead your singleton. It's a great lead!

If your partner doesn't gain the lead right away, you can try and find his entry, to give you a ruff, when you get in with the ♠A. Perfect!

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ 9 6 5 2
♥ K Q J
♦ 8
♣ Q 8 7 4 3

Q: 2 - What do you lead as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♥
Pass	3♥	Pass	4♥
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♥K - What's the purpose of a singleton lead? To take ruffs!

Here, with the ♥KQJ, you don't want to take ruffs. You already have two trump tricks. Therefore, you need to lead something else, and your Heart sequence looks safe.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ 9 6 2
♥ K Q J 8 5
♦ 5
♣ J 8 6 3

Q: 3 - What do you lead as South?

South	West	North	East
-	1♣	Pass	1♠
Pass	2♠	Pass	4♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♦5 - Even though your Heart sequence is great, a singleton lead is still better. If you don't lead it right now, declarer could have time to draw trumps.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ Q 5 2
♥ 10 6 5 4
♦ J 10 6 5 2
♣ 5

Q: 4 - What do you lead as South?

South	West	North	East
-	1♣	1♠	2♥
Pass	3♥	Pass	4♥
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♣5 - It's better to lead your singleton than your partner's suit, to try and take ruffs. Spades could be useful later, as transportation to get multiple ruffs.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ 5
♥ Q 9 6 5 2
♦ J 10 9 8
♣ K 3 2

Q: 5 - What do you lead as South?

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1♠
Pass	2♠	Pass	4♠
Pass	Pass	Pass

A: ♦J - A singleton trump makes for a really bad lead. It won't help you take tricks and could blow your partner's trump holding.

You need to find a safe lead. A Heart is an option, but it's better to lead the top of your Diamond sequence.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
More informations on our website: www.VuBridge.com

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